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It is a bit unfair to compare this joint US/Italian tale production from 1960 with the other blockbusters being produced around this time like “Ben Hur”, and “Cleopatra”, however as a smaller scale grief in this genre there is mighty to like about “Esther and the King”. The tedious 50’s and early 60’s were a command time for these types of productions when alot of film work was being done in Rome rather than in Hollywood because of the lower costs and tax benefits. While this film is very loosely based on the Archaic Testament book of Esther, it could never be said to adhere to historical fact or chronology and features actors who certainly dont fit the racial groups prove in the areas where the tale takes region. Those things aside I mild assume it a pleasurable if not spectacular difficulty that is sincerely played and is blessed with terrific space photography courtesy of the legendary Mario Bava, lovely costumes and richly drawn technicolour all wrapped up in terrific cinemascope. Richard Egan, a broken-down of 1950’s legend productions and Joan Collins play the two lead characters in this sage and actually gain an fascinating team while never for one moment looking like customary Persians. Egan in particular at least visually is very miscast but he does calm manage to add some depth to his character of King Ahasuerus.

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Taking residence in the fifth Century BC “Esther and the King”, relates the narrative of the all conquering King Ahasuerus of Persia who is better known in history as Xerxes, a very eminent name in Persian history. We behold the mammoth Persian Empire at the peak of its all conquering brilliance with as the narration in the prologue informs us, an empire that stretches from India to Ethiopia. King Ahasuerus has unbiased returned from a triumphant campaign in Egypt to accept not all well with how his kingdom and Palace has been hasten in his absense. He finds he has to contend with the devious ambition of his First Minister Haman, (Sergio Fantoni),who in his absence has been taking the law into his acquire hands dispensing his ruthless do of “justice” without trial. Queen Vashti (Daniela Rocca), has also been busy during his absence conducting a blatant affair with Haman. Only the devotion and wise counsel of his advisor Mordecai (Denis O’Dea), a secret worshiper of Jehovah, can be relied upon in these unsafe times. Long suspecting Queen Vashti of infidelty, Ahasuerus banishes her from his view however at the welcome home banquet she appears anyway and disgraces herself in front of the king by performing a seductive dance. Haman decides now that Vashti is of no consume to his plans for seizing the throne and has her secretly murdered hoping to spot his acquire favourite concubine on the throne in her region. However Ahasuerus has other plans and a search is begun for pleasant candidates for the role of Queen. Meanwhile Mordecai’s neice Esther (Joan Collins), is preparing to marry her sweetheart Simon (Rik Battaglia) who has unprejudiced returned from the Egyptian campaign with Ahasuerus. The king’s men however snatch Esther away unbiased before the wedding and Simon becomes a hunted man when he puts up resistance to the King’s orders. Esther is taken to the Palace where she is tutored by the head Eunuch in the ways of a potential queen. Haman’s plans to have his possess choice chosen by the king however advance to naught as Esther impresses everyone by her humility. Haman sets out to demolish Esther before the king makes his choice and employes the same hired killer to do away with her like he did Queen Vashti. However a mistake is made and Haman’s candidate is murdered . King Asasuerus is immediately taken by Esther’s beauty and modest bearing and he selects her as his modern Queen. Over time Esther begins to feel staunch treasure for the king and influences him toward better treatment of the jewish minorities within the borders of the Persian Empire. Twisted on revenge however Haman becomes a risky rival for Esther and after deliberatly setting up Mordecai to appear to be a traitor to the King, Ahasuerus sends him away, sets up a policy of the jews having to abandon their faith or be killed and worse calm removes Esther from his peer. Haman at last makes his recede to salvage the throne and attempts to assume the King’s life fair outside the city. Informed by the fugitive Simon about who really tried to ambush him Ahasuerus learns from Haman’s off sider of the steady person responsible and that Esther and Mordecai are innocent of any atrocious doing. Arriving wait on in the city unbiased in time to halt Haman from hanging Mordecai for supposed treason Haman himself is captured and hung in his status. After returning from his next campaign Ahasuerus realises how he was totally mislead and when he is greeted by a peaceful devoted Esther he takes her support into her rightful position as his queen.

“Esther and the King”, makes first and foremost an piquant legend of palace intrigue and if you ignore the shaky history applied here, most notably in Ahasuerus’ plans to convey the young Alexander of Greece a true lesson despite the fact that Alexander the Vast wasn’t even born in this period, you are guaranteed scrumptious viewing. Richard Egan does acquire an irregular choice as the King of Persia with his handsome complexion and desirable shaven face and a noteworthy better attempt of depicting historically proper Persians was done in another of his efforts “The 300 Spartans” in 1962. Joan Collins despite her possess quoted despise of this film wretchedness is refreshingly actual as the pleasant hearted Esther and it is captivating to study her in a role where she has a sympathetic character for a change. Her scenes especially with Sergio Fantoni’s villianess Haman do bring the film alive and provide it with some loyal spark. Denis O’Dea as the fine Mordecai also brings a detached dignity to the proceedings as the secret jew who has the ear and trust of the King and his speeches about tolerance of minorities and their beliefs now has a curiously unique ring to it. Also in the brief role of the disgraced used Queen Vashti Daniela Rocca, a glorious Italian actress also makes the most of her brief scenes as the unfaithful Queen who pays a high note for her infidelities. The gawk of “Esther and the King”, is what you would question of old-fashioned of these older account productions. It boasts some very radiant dwelling photography in the ruins honest outside Rome which stand in for passe Persia and the interior sets are suitably lavish with Ahasuerus’ harem in particular being marvellously opulent and garish. The main palace sets have an tantalizing mix of Babylonian and Persian designs that were lifted from weak historical texts by the designers and the lustrous colour photography also greatly enhances the scrutinize and feel of “Esther and the King”, making it a first-rate addition to the “epic’ stable of films.

Buy,Download, Or Stream Esther and the King! Click Here

Directed, produced and partly written by Hollywood used Raoul Walsh it marked one of the last film efforts by this legendary Hollywood identity before he retired. For a amble serve to former style movie making on a lavish scale “Esther and the King”, is a profitable if not sizable example of the new collaboration between Italian and American filmmakers in the early 1960’s. The films underlying message despite its mishandling of historical fact is serene a relevant one however and the earnest performances invent this film a excellent addition to any fable movie lovers collection.

Contentwise, I won’t toss darts OR roses. This is genre stuff. You either like it or you don’t. My beef is with the technical quality. It is defective. (1) It is NOT in widescreen (Cinemascope), which it ought to be for a biblical spectacular. There is simply no excuse for cranking out a full-screen treatment in a DVD issued in the year 2000. (2) The so-called “digital remastering” must be kitchen-table grade, because the shapes are fuzzy, colors oversaturated, visuals mushy. This DVD should be withdrawn from the market and a modern widescreen version substituted. I accept better quality from my VHS of this movie than the DVD I purchased. Lousy lousy lousy, as I said.
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